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F1 Report: Would Robert Kubica be right choice for Williams 2018 drive?

Robert Kubica will be a "very good choice" for the 2018 Williams seat if he can prove he is physically capable to make a full-time return to Formula 1, according to this week's F1 Report guests.

Kubica has not raced in F1 since suffering career-changing injuries in a rally crash in 2011, but this year has stepped up his attempts to make a comeback.

The 32-year-old ran in three tests with former team Renault over the summer, while he has already driven Williams' 2014 car twice. The Pole is now expected to drive their 2017 car on one of their two days testing Pirelli tyres in Abu Dhabi at the end of the month.

Kubica is one of four drivers understood to be in contention to be Lance Stroll's team-mate next season, following Felipe Massa's retirement, along with Williams' reserve driver Paul Di Resta, Pascal Wehrlein and Daniil Kvyat.

Williams co-founder Sir Patrick Head, who will have no say in the team's driver line-up decision, thinks Kubica would be a strong choice if he can physically cope with the demands of F1.

"Robert was one of the outstanding drivers in Formula 1 in recent years," he told the F1 Report, which first airs at 8.30pm on Wednesday on Sky Sports F1.

"The big difficulty is, does he still have the toughness and heart for it? Only he knows that. And is he physically capable? He's certainly got a very heavily damaged arm and Williams obviously want to find that out.

"If he is physically capable, he will be a very good choice.

"Lance was asked himself who he would like to see and he jokingly said Lewis Hamilton. Obviously this has been a big learning year for Lance and in order for him to be rated, then the chap in the other car needs to be highly rated as well. You are always rated against your team-mate.

"For Lance, his view will be he needs the strongest driver possible in the other car. There's always going to be question marks about Robert because of his physical limitations until he proves that's not the case. Maybe a test in Abu Dhabi will show internally if he has the capability."

Kubica, a former BMW and Lotus driver, had been widely tipped as a future world champion before his one-off participation in an Italian rally between pre-season F1 tests in 2011 dramatically changed the course of his career.

Just three days after setting the pace in F1 winter testing at Valencia, Kubica crashed into a church wall during the Ronde di Andora rally, suffering extensive damage to his right hand, arm and leg. He underwent several hours of surgery and suffered a partial amputation of his forearm.

Marc Priestley joined Sir Patrick and Natalie Pinkham on the show and he believes that although Kubica's story will appeal to Williams, he thinks the fact the team are giving him another test means they still have some doubts over his fitness.

"Williams, and any Formula 1 team, have an obligation to factor in marketing and the story and publicity that any driver brings and Robert will bring a hugely fascinating story with him," Priestley said.

"The fact that they've already tested Paul and Robert in a car and yet still haven't made a decision, or at least publicly announced the decision, and they are now testing Robert again, tells me there is at least some doubt.

"They know what Paul can do, he's raced for them this year and did a very good job, and there must be some doubt over whether Robert can physically handle every race track or every grand prix situation."

One option speculated in the paddock is a seat share between Kubica and Di Resta, with the latter standing in at any track where Kubica's injuries may hinder his performance.

But Priestley would like to see that avoided, saying: "I hope not because I don't think that's how Formula 1 should be run. You want the best driver in your car for the entire season."

He's testing again for Williams after Abu Dhabi. His 3rd test with them. He tested with Renault 3x already as well. He's definitely showing them something to consider and they aren't ****ing around, spending lots of coin on multiple tests. Whether the question marks around his capabilities will ever be answered with a drive remains to be seen.

Kubica looking like the favorite for the Williams seat with numerous (obviously unconfirmed) reports that he already has a signed contract.

He's testing again for Williams after Abu Dhabi. His 3rd test with them. He tested with Renault 3x already as well. He's definitely showing them something to consider and they aren't ****ing around, spending lots of coin on multiple tests. Whether the question marks around his capabilities will ever be answered with a drive remains to be seen.

He's obviously showing he still has some speed in the tests and would be a great story for marketing. I think they'll sign him as soon as they're confident he is physically capable of driving the car safely at all the tracks.

I know its a different animal but he competed in the WRC since his accident. How many of the the current F1 drivers on the grid would be capable at competing in rally at that level? Hell, he did about as well as Kimi did in his rally stint and Kimi came back and won races in what was supposed to be Robert's car.

He has little chance of becoming a world champion anymore obviously but Williams is a mid-pack team at best anyway and he could help them develop the car and bring in some much needed sponsorship money.

He's obviously showing he still has some speed in the tests and would be a great story for marketing. I think they'll sign him as soon as they're confident he is physically capable of driving the car safely at all the tracks.

I know its a different animal but he competed in the WRC since his accident. How many of the the current F1 drivers on the grid would be capable at competing in rally at that level? Hell, he did about as well as Kimi did in his rally stint and Kimi came back and won races in what was supposed to be Robert's car.

He has little chance of becoming a world champion anymore obviously but Williams is a mid-pack team at best anyway and he could help them develop the car and bring in some much needed sponsorship money.

So Williams isn't going to win any championships any time soon. They want a driver that can drive up to the potential of the car and will also get the car on TV. Kubica is both those things. His back story would guarantee TV time.

From a revenue perspective Kubika not being able to drive every track might be an even better situation. Kubika drives tracks where Williams is competitive then Williams brings in a pay driver to fill in at places where Kubika "can't drive". Money, money, money, money..... money.

The NBCSports foursome of irksome F1 presenters is on their last race and one is left to wonder if the succession will be an improvement.
Shouldn't be too difficult to copy what the European networks are doing.

Vettel, Hamilton, and Räikkönen each commented on just how much fun it is to drive around for 40 laps saving fuel. You could see it in everyone's in-car. They were backing off at the 200-250 meter marks for the corners.

Then Toto Wolff added to that by saying that the three engine limit for next year will be fine if everyone just turns down the power on the engines.

I would rather see them spend more money. Screw this watered down racing, and I don't care if there are a and b teams, the smartest will still win. Just spread the money better. Let ego's fuel the sport give the money equally between all teams to level the playing field and only a big team bonus for winning the constructors and race bonuses for podiums in quali and the race.

Give them a specific amount of fuel and then open rules on engines. Build whatever you want, use new technology and race hard. Same with aero, as long as your car fits through this "hole" in a template, have a min and max height, max width, min weight, spec tires, and let the technology flow.